[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41354-41356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14172]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21860; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-
200, and A340-300 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 
series airplanes. This proposed AD would require operators to modify 
the hydraulic control block of the nose landing gear. This proposed AD 
is prompted by a report of an unexpected steering event (swerve) during 
the take-off roll of one affected airplane. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent loss of airplane steering while on the ground, which could 
result in the airplane going off the side of the runway.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     By fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.
    You can examine the contents of this AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room PL-
401, on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC. This 
docket number is FAA-2005-21860; the directorate identifier for this 
docket is 2005-NM-032-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Backman, Aerospace Engineer 
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2797; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2005-21860; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-032-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments submitted by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of our 
docket

[[Page 41355]]

Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You can review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you can visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You can examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), 
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, 
A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that a Model 
A340 series airplane had an unexpected steering event (swerve) during 
its take-off roll, while traveling at 47 knots. Analysis showed that 
the event was caused by a braking and steering control unit (BSCU) 
channel 1 fault, followed by a loss of the nose wheel steering (NWS). 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in the loss of airplane 
steering while on the ground, and the airplane going off the side of 
the runway.

Relevant Service Information

    Airbus has issued Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3156, and Airbus 
Service Bulletin A340-32-4194, both dated December 22, 2004. The 
service bulletins describe procedures for modifying the hydraulic 
control block (HCB) of the nose landing gear by adding a check valve 
between the selector valve and the servo valve. Accomplishing the 
actions specified in the service information is intended to adequately 
address the unsafe condition. The DGAC mandated the service information 
and issued French airworthiness directive F-2005-016, dated January 19, 
2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in 
France.
    The service bulletins refer to Messier-Bugatti Service Bulletin 
C24856-32-064, dated January 26, 2005, as an additional source of 
service information for modifying the HCB.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings, 
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require 
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information 
described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would affect about 22 Model A330-200 and A330-300 
airplanes of U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 39 
work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. 
There is no charge for required parts. Based on these figures, the 
estimated cost of the proposed AD for U.S. operators is $55,770, or 
$2,535 per airplane.
    There are currently no Model A340-200 or Model A340-300 airplanes 
on the U.S. Register. Should one of these airplanes be imported and 
placed on the U.S. Register in the future, the proposed actions would 
take about 39 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $65 
per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the 
proposed AD would be $2,535 per airplane.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not 
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship 
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2005-21860; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-
032-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration must receive comments on 
this AD action by August 18, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, 
-243, -301, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes;

[[Page 41356]]

and Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, and -313 airplanes; 
certificated in any category; with hydraulic control block (HCB) 
part number (P/N) C24856000-9 or C24856001-7.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by a report of an unexpected steering 
event (swerve) during the take-off roll of one affected airplane. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent loss of airplane steering while on 
the ground, which could result in the airplane going off the side of 
the runway.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Modification

    (f) Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD: Modify 
the hydraulic control block (HCB) in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions of the applicable service bulletin in 
paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD.
    (1) Airbus Service Bulletin A330-32-3156, dated December 22, 
2004, for Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes.
    (2) Airbus Service Bulletin A340-32-4194, dated December 22, 
2004, for Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes.

    Note 1: The Airbus service bulletins refer to Messier-Bugatti 
Service Bulletin C24856-32-064, dated January 26, 2005, as an 
additional source of service information for doing the modification.

Parts Installation

    (g) After the effective date of this AD, no person may install 
on any airplane an HCB having P/N C24856000-9 or C24856001-7, unless 
it has been modified in accordance with paragraph (f) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested in 
accordance with the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (i) French airworthiness directive F-2005-016, dated January 19, 
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 11, 2005.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14172 Filed 7-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P